Recent Co-op News

Meet Your 2020 Trustee Election Candidates

June 2, 2020

Mail-in ballots due July 10 for districts 4, 5 and 6 Members who live in districts 4, 5 and 6 will receive a ballot in June for the trustee election. Each membership receives one vote. Members may submit their vote by returning a completed ballot in the postage-paid envelope provided...

Manager’s Message – June 2020, Annual Meeting Update

June 1, 2020

Dear Members, 2020 has brought both challenges and opportunities for Benton REA. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to be more flexible in our operating procedures and in future Benton REA events. But we look forward with hope as we power on. Annual Meeting Update Our 2020 Annual Meeting is...

Member Satisfaction Survey Coming

May 30, 2020

A randomly selected group of members will receive a postcard this month asking them to complete a Benton REA satisfaction survey. If you receive one, please take 10 minutes or less to answer our questions. Each year, Benton REA seeks to understand our members' satisfaction with the cooperative to improve...

Benton REA Donates $20K to Local Food Banks

May 22, 2020

Twenty thousand dollars is feeding local families thanks to Benton REA and matching funds from CoBank, one of the utility’s lenders. Benton REA received a $10,000 matching grant from the CoBank Sharing Success program. Together, the $20,000 donation will help families through three organizations within the Benton REA member service...

Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Incentives Now Available

May 20, 2020

Members can now receive up to $100 from Benton REA towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. In April, the Benton REA Board of Trustees voted to approve the new incentive program, rewarding those members who choose to reduce their tailpipe carbon emissions and purchase electricity to fuel their daily...

Sign Up for June 30 Blood Drive

May 20, 2020

A blood drive is scheduled for June 30 at the Benton REA West Richland office at 6095 W. Van Giesen St. According to the American Red Cross, thousands of blood drives were cancelled this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including one of Benton REA's drives in March due to...

All in a Night’s Work

May 19, 2020

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, May 3, Foreman Lineworker Jeff Ripplinger snapped a photo of the long-awaited sunrise, signaling not the beginning of the workday, but nearing the end. He and his crew got a call shortly after 11 p.m. the night before that a Benton PUD 115 kilovolt transmission line...

2018 Benton REA Fuel Mix Report

May 19, 2020

How your electricity is generated, as reported in the Washington State Department of Commerce 2018 Electric Utility Fuel Mix Disclosure Report In 2018, Benton REA members received their electricity from the following generation sources: 75.96% Hydropower, 14.58% Unspecified, 9.45% Nuclear and 0.01% Natural Gas. This is the most recent data...

Kids’ Electrical Safety Poster Contest

May 3, 2020

Posters are due June 19, 2020, for this year’s Electrical Safety Poster Contest. All elementary-age children whose parents or guardians are Benton REA members with active electrical accounts are eligible. Prizes will be distributed in July. For more information, call 509-781-6752 or email rmitchell@bentonrea.org. Age Categories: Kindergartners and 1st graders...

Clean Energy: The Northwest Way of Life

May 2, 2020

Life in the Northwest is shaped by the Columbia River and all it has to offer. From clean energy to clean air, this iconic waterway is forever giving. It Fuels the Cleanest Power System in the Nation Dams in the Columbia River Basin produce more electricity than any other North...

Manager’s Message – May 2020, Power On

May 1, 2020

Dear Members, We’re living in unprecedented times right now. Benton REA remains committed to providing reliable electricity and internet services during the COVID-19 outbreak. We are working hard for you. We know many of you can’t work right now, and your jobs or businesses have been hit hard. I want...

Power Bills, Reliable Service and COVID-19

April 22, 2020

Answers to your questions about Benton REA's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Q: Are my electricity and internet service considered essential? A: Yes. Benton REA and PowerNET are considered essential service providers and will remain operating during the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-home order. Reliable electricity and internet services are critical...